How do you orchestrate swimming/locker room (14 mos)?

Both DH & I were there (first time swimming), and it wasn't a disaster (boys really enjoyed it), but it was certainly not a smooth transition from swimming to being ready to leave. How do you do it?

I got out with Joe and rinsed, dried, and dressed him (but he ended up still soaking b/c I was dripping all over him).
Then, I went back out to the pool, held both of them on my lap (Joe clothed & squirmy, Nick soaking, just out of the pool and freezing) while DH sprinted to the locker room, dried himself off, got dressed, (after we realized changing a baby while wet was not working) and came back for Joe while I ran in and got Nick and myself cleaned up.

How do you handle the logistics of getting from the pool to the locker room to the car?
How long do you usually swim before the kids are just too cold/shivering/blue? (We lasted 25 minutes).
If you use wetsuits, do they keep the kids warmer, or just hang heavy & wet, making them cold?

 

When we're done swimming I take one baby to the women's locker room and dh takes the other to the men's locker room. I just wrap a towel around myself, and when we get to the locker room I put the baby on the ground and dry off quick. Then I get her dressed and then dress myself. Dh does the same with the other baby in the other locker room.

 

Our YMCA has a "Family" Locker room area where there are seperate rooms with showers, toilet and sink that our whole family goes into and cleans off/gets dressed. Is there anywhere around you where this is available. It takes a while, but it is much easier. I have found that our boys usually only last about 20-25 minutes too. It usually takes longer to get cleaned up afterwards than the actual swimming lasted. We had wetsuits last year, but I only used them at the beach for sun protection.

 

Our gym has a family locker room, so we'd get them all showered and dressed (with a towel wrapped around us) then put them in their stroller and give them some puffs. Then DH would shower and after he did I would. If we didn't have the family locker room I think I'd take one and DH would take one. We'd probably just have to bring 2 strollers.

 

We have family locker rooms. Our process was: Use the double stroller and use lots of towels (to line, to cover them to keep them warm, etc). I would shower first, dry and dress. DH would shower with 1 girl, start to dry her and give her to me. I would finish drying her and dress her. Meanwhile he'd shower with 2nd girl. I'd dry and dress her while he showered.

Whenever they weren't in the shower, they were strapped in stroller with snacks and sippy cups to keep them happy. I used the stroller in reclined position to dress them.


Now things have changed. I'm too sick w/ my chronic illnesses to battle this routine weekly. Instead, DH takes one of daughters each wknd to the pool. While I spend quality time with other. Following week, we switch. It's MUCH less stressful. And we get quality one-on-one time with each kid.

 

I'm sort of glad to see I'm not the only one who finds this challenging!

Our pool has family locker rooms, which helps because there is a toilet, shower, bench, and changing table in the same little private room. But it's not big enough for all 4 of us, so DH and I still each have to take a baby. (You have to make sure you've divided up the towels, clothes, and diapers properly ahead of time.)

I set her down (still wet and in her bathing suit) and quickly take off my suit. I try to wrap a towel around her, but she usually goes and starts paddling her fingers in the toilet, which has no lid <_< . Then (while I'm naked) I take off her suit and swim diaper. I take her in the shower and rinse us both off. Then I dry myself off very fast (and not very thoroughly), then dry her off and get her diapered and dressed. She then goes and paddles her fingers in the toilet some more while I get dressed. She also usually sits in a puddle of water and gets her clothes wet, but what can you do? Mostly I worry about her trying to run on the wet floor and having a wipeout.

It's not my favorite thing -- I hate putting my clothes on when I'm even slightly damp, and let alone doing it while looking after a toddler... But the girls really love swimming.

 

Add us to the paddling in the toilet club!!! I think it is almost as much fun for them as the pool!!!!

 

I have different swimming issues. We go to Grandmas house so the locker room is not the problem. I just have to keep 2 babies happy while big brothers and sister swim for hours!! The boys are done in less than an hour but my older kids usually swim 1 1/2! It is usually me with the 5 kids, not a huge deal for me because all of the older kids can swim, even my 4 year old. I use to coach a swim team and taught kids how to swim for years so I cam comfortable with multiple kids in the water. But right now I think the deck is more dangerous for my twins. They are good walkers at 14 months but they are just starting to climb... and thus fall! And I can't be two places at the same time!

Cindy

 

QUOTE(Cindy H @ May 26 2007, 12:55 AM) [snapback]269125[/snapback]
I have different swimming issues. We go to Grandmas house so the locker room is not the problem. I just have to keep 2 babies happy while big brothers and sister swim for hours!! The boys are done in less than an hour but my older kids usually swim 1 1/2! It is usually me with the 5 kids, not a huge deal for me because all of the older kids can swim, even my 4 year old. I use to coach a swim team and taught kids how to swim for years so I cam comfortable with multiple kids in the water. But right now I think the deck is more dangerous for my twins. They are good walkers at 14 months but they are just starting to climb... and thus fall! And I can't be two places at the same time!

Cindy


Hi, Cindy!
How do you take both 14 month olds in the water by yourself? Do you just stand there and hold them or do you use some kind of baby float or what? I have 14 month old twins and an almost 3 year old, but i can't figure out how to take them swimming- even with my husband helping!!!